Grip locking glove assembly



Sept. 27, 1966 A. RUSSO 3,274,616

GRIP LOCKING GLOVE ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. ALLIE Russo Mu? 3.3mm

ATTORNEY Sept. 27, 1966 A usso GRIP LOCKING GLOVE ASSEMBLY 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1965 INVENTOR. ALL/E Russo B Y g ATTORNEYUnited States Patent Oihce 3,274,616 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 3,274,616GRIP LOCKING GLOVE ASSEMBLY Allie Russo, 488 Maywood Ave., Maywood, NJ.Filed Oct. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 495,830 3 Claims. (Cl. 2-161) The presentinvention relates to gloves and more particularly to .a grip lockingtype adapted to keep the fingers securely encircled about a shaft,handle, or any other object gripped by the fingers of the hand.

The invention is particularly useful in playing or teaching the game ofgolf, for example, where it is absolutely essential in a correct swingthat the pinky and two finger-s adjacent thereto maintain a tight andfirm grip on the shaft of the golf club at all times from the beginningof the golf swing, to the completion thereof.

In other applications, for further example, if a messenger were carryinga briefcase containing valuable securities or the like, it would bedifficult or nearly impossible to snatch the case from his hand whenwearing the glove of this invention. In brief the novel grip lookingglove assembly herein described may be advantageously used wherever itis required to grip an object firmly by encircling the fingers of thehand thereabout, and to firmly maintain said grip. The inventionaccomplishes this end in such a positive manner, that the wearer of theglove cannot relinquish his grip about the object without aid from hisfree hand, as will hereinafter appear.

In application to the game of golf a frequent defect in the golf swingof players in virtually every category below the professional level isthat the last three fingers of the left hand tend to open, or loosentheir firm grip on the shaft of the golf club at some point during thegolf swing. A loose gn'p at any point is undesirable. It may preventkeeping the club square in meeting the ball, or it may cause the club toturn in the hands, thereby affecting the direction of travel of theball, and at very least will detract power from the swing.

The invention is also useful as a prosthetic device, applicable incase-s where a person cannot firmly clench the fist to grip an objectbecause of inherent infirmity or malady or the like whereby the fingersof the hand are limp, or weak, or not fully functional. The novel griplocking glove assembly disclosed herein will enable such persons toacquire a positive grip on an object such as a suitcase handle, or theshaft of a golf club and manipulate the same satisfactorily.

As an additional application of the invention, the glove assembly may beapplied in such a manner as to comprise in effect a reinforcing wristband as hereinafter described.

Briefiy stated, the invention contemplates providing a glove assemblyhaving integrally attached on the back thereof a relatively Wide swatchof a component of an instantly attachable and detachable material suchas nylon tape fastener for example as manufactured by the VELOROCorp-oration of New York. e

Such material is well known in the art and consists essentially of twopieces of all nyilon tape. One piece is covered with a myriad of finelywoven filaments formed into permanent hooks. The other piece is coveredwith soft nylon loops. When pressed together the two tapes engage .andfasten tightly to form a firm shear resistant bond. However the tapesseparate readily by simply peeling them apart.

One such material for example is disclosed and described in UnitedStates Patent Numbers 2,717,437, 3,083,737, 3,009,235 and 3,154,837among others. In such pressure attachable material the componentcontaining the hooks is called the hook part, and the componentcontaining the loops, which is rather felt-like in appearance and to thetouch, is called the pile part. Hence, the hook part is pressed into thepile part and in so doing the hook part is said to be mated with thepile part. The hooks engage the loops, and the bond so formed has thecharacteristic of being extremely resistant to a shear force. In tensionhowever, the bond is less strong and the components may readily bepeeled apart.

A grip lock band embodying elastic properties and containing a strip ofthe hook component on each end thereof is attached to the pile strip onthe glove in the proximity of the knucltles. The band is then wrappedabout the last three fingers of the hand gripping an object such as agolf club shaft, and the opposite end is attached to the pile in theproximity of the wrist. Any attempt to open the hand so enveloped causesa downward shearing force to be applied to the bond between the pile andthe hook components of the tape fastener and since the bond is verydifficult to overcome in shear, the hand is kept locked about the objectgripped.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide anovel grip lock-ing glove assembly of the above indicated nature and todo so in a positive and effective manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a grip locking gloveassembly which will compel the wearer to retain a tight grip about anobject gripped by the hand such as a golf club shaft or the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a grip lock-ingglove assembly adapted for use as a prosthetic device for those havinglimp, weak, infirm, or partly operative fingers in the gripping action.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a grip locking gloveassembly adapted to provide the proper grip on a golf club: in playingor teaching the game of golf.

Further objects and advantages and features will appear more fullyhereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description whichfollows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein oneembodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is tobe expressly understood however that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration only, and are not to be con: strued as defining the limitsof the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appendedclaims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters in dicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sub assembly of the novel grip lockingglove assembly.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a band sub assembly for the grip lockingglove assembly.

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 loo-king inthe direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a section view taken along the line 4--4 of BIG. 8 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a section view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the complete grip locking glove assemblyshowing the same on the hand of a wearer.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a step in the installation of thegrip locking glove assembly onto a hand gripping a shaft looking towardsthe palm of the gloved hand.

FIG. 8 is a view showing the grip locking glove assembly installed inplace about a hand gripping the shaft of a club looking towards the backof the hand.

F FIG. 8 is a view showing the underside of the view of FIG. 10 is aperspective view showing an alternate installation of the grip lockingglove assembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. L1 is a view showing the band sub assembly of FIG. 2, in use as aWrist band.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 6 there isshown a complete grip locking glove assembly generally designated by thenumeral 10. The glove assembly 10 comprises a pile carrying glove subassembly 12 (FIG. 1) in turn comprising a usual and standard glove 14having a number. of ventilating holes 16 along a backhand surface 18.Upon sa-id backhand surface 18, there is firmly attached in a prescribedmanner, such as by stitching 20, at least one swatch of a component ofnylon tape fastening material 22 herein called the pile, or the pilepart. The pile 22 rests upon a backing 24 which in turn is secured tothe glove 14, such as by the stitching 20 (FIGPS).

Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown a band assembly generallydesignated as numeral 28, comprising a band of resilient elastic likematerial 30 having secured at both ends thereof in overlapping fashion(FIGS. 2 and strips 32 and 33 of hook material 34.

The hook material 34, as above stated is especially designed and adaptedto hook into and make a firm bond with the pile material 22 by simplypressing the hook material into the pile material. The pile material 22in turn is especially designed and adapted to be engaged by the hookmaterial 34 to form said bond. The bond so formed by simple pressurebetween the two materials has the characteristic that it is difficult tosever by application of a shear force as shown by the direction of thearrow S (FIG. 4), but fairly yielding to a tension force as shown by thearrow T (FIG. 4). The reason being that the hook material 34 literallycomprises a multitude of tiny hook-like protuberances which engage theloops in the soft pile. A shearing force, especially if slightlydownward tends to further imbed the hooks into the pile while a tensionforce applied to the bond, such as in a peeling motion, tends to pullthe hooks free of the pile.

The hook material 34 is attached to the band 30 in any approved mannersuch as by stitching 36. The band assembly 28 also comprises on at leastone side thereof and on at least one end a pile strip 38. (FIGS. 2 and5) secured thereto as by stitching 40 for the purpose of forming a bondwith the strip 32 in an alternate application of the 1 grip lockingglove assembly 10 as hereinafter explained.

Turning now to FIGURES 6, 7, 8, and 9 there is shown in sequence apreferred application of the grip locking glove assembly onto a lefthand 42 gripping a club shaft 43.

Although the illustrations of FIGURES 6, 7, 8 and 9 show the applicationof the invention to a left hand, it is understood that the inventionwill apply to and may be constructed for a right hand as well.

In FIGURE 6, the glove assembly 12 is snugly slipped onto the hand42andthe elastic band assembly 28 is positioned in the vicinity of andpreferably slightly above the knuckles of the hand and preferably at aslight angle A (FIG. 6), so that upon extending the band assembly 28,the ban-d 30 will pass over and substantially cover the last threefingers, herein designate-d as 44, 46 and 48, of the left hand 42. Theband assembly 28is then drawn over the last 3 fingers of the left handwhich is now grasping the shaft 43 and completely around the hand 42 andthe strip 33 of hook material is firmly pressed into the pile 24 (FIG.8). It will now be evident that the elastic band 30 passes over andfirmly holds the last 3 fingers 44, 46, and 48 of the left hand lockedin tight gripping engagement about the club 43.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 8, it will be evident that an attempt toopen the left hand and drop the club 43 will cause a shearing force tobe set up between the pile material 22 and the hook material strip 32(FIG. 4) along the direction substantially of the arrow S. Since thebond between the pile and hook materials is strongest in shear it willnot be possible to open the hand 42. This 4 bond can be readily overcomewith the free right hand 41 however (FIG. 7) by simply peeling the hookstrip 32 upwards along the direction of the arrow T since the bondaforementioned will readily yield to a tension force.

Referring now to FIGURE 10, the glove assembly 10 is shown with the bandassembly 28 worn about the wrist over the glove 12, in the manner of areinforcing Wrist band. In this application the hook strip 32 is pressedand fastened into the pile strip 38 to form a positive bond which canonly be overcome by means of a peeling force thereon applied by the freehand. This application serves to secure the glove assembly 12 firmly inplace and prevent slippage thereof while at the same time providing areinforcement for the wrist. FIG. 11 shows the band assembly 28 utilizedper se as a rein-forcing wrist band. It is a dual function of the bandassembly 28 that it may be advantageously employed as a wrist band inaddition to its more usual function in conjunction with the glove assembly 12 as heretofore explained.

Hencev it will be seen that there are provided means whereby the severalobjects of this invention are achieved in a positive and effectivemanner.

Although only one embodiment and one application of the invention hasbeen illustrated and described, it will readily be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that changes in form and modifications may be made inthe relative arrangement of the part-s without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A grip locking glove assembly adapted to compel the wearer to retaina firm grip upon the shaft of a golf club when the hands are grippingthe club shaft, comprising a glove assembly positioned on a hand of thewearer, said glove assembly including a glove and a swatch of fasteningmaterial attached to the back thereof, a resilient band assemblyincluding a band having a mating attachment on one end detachablysecured to the swatch of fastening material, said band being wrappedcompletely around the glove and hand, a second mating attachment on theopposite end of said band detachably fastening into the swatch to holdthe gloved hand firmly about the shaft of the golf club.

2. A glove assembly adapted for use as a prosthetic device in aidingpersons unable to retain a firm grip upon a shaft-like object due toinherent infirmity in the fingers, comprising in combination a glovehaving finger stalls for wearing upon the infirm hand, a swatch of pilematerial secured to the back of said glove, a band assembly comprising aresilient band having attaching means overlapping each end of the band,said means being strips of hook material instantly attached and detachedto the pile material, said band assembly being attached onto the swatchin the proximity. of theknuckles of the glove at one end, and wrappedaround the finger stalls of theglove attached onto the swatch in theproximity of the wrist of the glove at the opposite end so as to holdthe infirm fingers of the hand firmly about the object gripped by meansof the resiliency of the band assembly.

3. The grip lockingglove assembly of claim 2, said band assembly havinga strip of pile material adjacent to at least one of the strips of hookmaterial.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,105,972 10/1963' Christopher 2-161 3,086,529 4/1963 Munz et a1. 128-327 JORDANFRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A GRIP LOCKING GLOVE ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO COMPEL THE WEARER TO RETAINA FIRM GRIP UPON THE SHAFT OF A GOLF CLUB WHEN THE HANDS ARE GRIPPINGTHE CLUB SHAFT, COMPRISING A GOLVE ASSEMBLY POSITIONED ON A HAND OF THEWEARER, SAID GLOVE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A GLOVE AND A SWATCH OF FASTENINGMATERIAL ATTACHED TO THE BACK THEREOF, A RESILIENT BAND ASSEMBLYINCLUDING A BAND HAVING A MATING ATTACHMENT ON ONE END DETACHABLYSECURED TO THE SWATCH OF FASTENING MATERIAL, SAID BAND BEING WRAPPEDCOMPLETELY AROUND THE GOLVE AND HAND, A SECOND MATING ATTACHMENT ON THEOPPOSITE END OF SAID BAND DETACHABLY FASTENING INTO THE SWATCH TO HOLDTHE GLOVED HAND FIRMLY ABOUT THE SHAFT OF THE GOLF CLUB.